Headband and earphone mounting



June 28, 1949. 1 VQLKMANN l 2,474,386

HEADBAND AND EARPHONE MOUNTING Filed Julie 19, 1944 therethrough. Theseslots are of a width to loosely receive and retain vertical coaxialtrunnion studs 26 formed integrally on the upper and lower edges of thearm I2 near the extremity of the latter, and the slots are elongated ina direction normal to the plate I8. At the central part of the pla-te I8a nodular bearing member 2&3 is pressed outward from the material of theplate. During the use of the device, these nodules serve as point thrustbearings against which the hat surfaces of the arms I2 may bear andpivot uni versally while pressing the ear phones to the head of theuser. When the head set is removed from the head of the user, the thrustbearing nodule 29 does not function materially, as the arm I2 may befree therefrom entirely when both trunnion lugs are in the outer partsof the slots. The earphones in the latter case may have greater scope ofhorizontal pivotal movement, enabling more ready initial adjustment ofthe device on the head.

It may be seen from Figure l, that the planiform rear portion of eacharm I2 is offset from its junction with the head band, and that thisoffset is approximately the same as the lesser thickness of the headphone and socket piece I6, so that when the device is fitted to the ear,the arm I2 is close to the thinner part of the ear phone unit. Thisfurther minimizes the space required for the device within a helmet, andallows free spring action of the headband in which its ends are somewhatsprung apart by the reaction of the arms I2 when the head of a user isinterposed. At such times the forward portions of the arms I2 areusually spaced further from the forward parts of the earphone units.

The headband structure permits adjustment of the earphone sockets inseveral different respects. The length of the headband, and consequentlythe spacing of the earphone sockets from the top of the headband, may bevaried by movement of the arms 4 in the ends of the headband. Theheadband itself, being of a resilient character, allows the earphonesockets to be moved away from one another along the interaural axis. Inthis movement the end portions of the headband function as torsionsprings at the same time that they press the earphones inward by stresscomponents acting linearly in the major plane of the band; the band endsbeing slightly separated further from their normal relative freepositions. The torsion function of the head band lessens the pressure onthe ears of the user which might otherwise be exerted by the full inwardforce available at the ends of the head band. The loosely heldarrangement of the trunnion studs 26 in the slotted ears of the frameplate I8 permits movement of the earphone socket around the axis of thestuds through a limited arc of rotation in a horizontal plane passingthrough the interaural axis. At the same time, the studs on the curvedarms are free to move in and out in the slots of the sides 22 with theends of the arms lying in contact with the round bearings 28, auniversal pivot effect being thus attained.

A feature of the movement of the earphone socket as permitted by thestructure described is the limited character of the movement, such as isindicated by the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1. Theearphone sockets are prevented from being rotated through a completecircle or into a position where manipulative adjustment is necessarybefore placing the headband over the head. The limited arc of rotationin both vertical and horizontal planes permits sufficient freedom ofmovement to make satisfactory and accurate adjustment for different sizeheads, and yet the earphone sockets are constantly held in asubstantially ready position.

Another feature of the invention consists in the fact that the arms I2apply pressure on the point bearings 28 centrally of the earphonesthemselves. The ends of the arms are also (by reason of the separatingmovement of the ends of the band) prevented from pressing against thesides of the head when the band is contacted by a helmet or otheragency. It is also pointed out that the curved arms I2 extend rearwardlyfrom a distance in front of the interaural axis and incline inwardlytoward one another at their rear parts, so that the sockets I6 normallytend to cling to the ears. This gives a more accurate lit and allows theearphone sockets to be quickly located in a correct position over theears.

It will be seen that I have provided a simple and eicient device forsupporting earphone sockets from arms which extend backwardly from aheadband, thus presenting a compact arrang^ ment about which a helmetmay be easily positioned. Adjustable features are also included whichprovide for comfort, ease in installation, and various other advantages.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should beunderstood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to, inkeeping with the spirit of the invenu tion as defined by the appendedclaims.

1. A headband and earphone mounting conin prising a flat steel springheadband of inverted U-shape constructed and shaped to engage over andacross the head of a person with its ends planiform and parallel at thesides of the head of, and forwardly of the ears of the person, L-shapedadjustable slides having broad, at arms, one in a plane with andtelescopically engaged with the respective end of the headband, theother arm of the slide 'being extended laterally outwardly from theplane of the end of the head band and thence rearwardly to form ahorizontal planiform earphone support arm broadened in a vertical planeoffset from the plane of the adjacent end of the head band andconvergent rearwardly theretoward, coaxial vertical studlike trunnionsformed at the upper and lower edges of the earphone support arm, anearphone frame plate member constructed for xed attachment to the outerside of an earphone, upper and lower parallel ears formed thereonslightly above and below the earphone support arm, and having respectiveslots therein to receive loosely therethrough respective trunnions, theslots being both elongated in a direction normal to the plane of theplate a distance sucient for limited sliding movement of the trunnionstherein whereby an earphone on the plate may pivot on a horizontal axisthrough an angle limited by engagement of the trunnions at the ends ofsaid slots, said trunnions 4being revoluble on their axis in the slots,said offset arm being extended beyond said axis a distance sufficient tolimit rocking of a mounted earphone on said trunnion axis as required.

2. An improved article of manufacture, as a combined earphone andmicrophone support, the structure of claim 1 wherein a planiform forwardenlargement is formed at the junction of the arms of the slide, and aseparable fastener member thereon.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which an earphone is included havinghead-fitting cushion elements, the cushion elements being thicker at'their rear portions so that when in use the ear phones are inclined inplanes convergent forwardly to the planes of the ends of the head band,and the olset of the planiform part of said earphone support arm issubstantially the same as the lesser thickness of the earphone andcushion assembly.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein a nodule is pressed in the saidframe plate toward the said support arm, whereby the flat side of thelatter may press upon the nodule as a universal pivot thrust bearing.

JOHN VOLKMANN.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 911,178 Sullivan Feb. 2, 19091,452,851 Schmidt Apr. 24, 1923 1,573,839 Lech Feb. 23, 1926 1,579,412Stenberg Apr. 6, 1926 2,337,953 Wirsching Dec. 28, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 353,758 Germany May 24, 1922 439,808 Germany Jan.19, 1927

